Juan of the Dead is ready

Finally, after all the buzz created by the extensive coverage by all big global news outlets, Juan of the Dead, Cuba’s first feature-length horror film in half a century, is ready.

The irreverent Cuban feature film is co-produced by Spain’s La Zanfoña Producciones and Cuba’s independent la Quinta Avenida producciones de Cuba. It has also funding from the Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industria Cinematográficas (Cuba), Canal Sur (Spain) y Televisión Española, the Junta de Andalucía, Ibermedia and Cinergia Fund

“Juan of the Dead” (Juan de los Muertos), at a budgeted euro 1.3 million ($1.65 million) the most expensive recent feature film made on the island, has an ironic take on contemporary Cuba. In Alejandro Brugues’ film, an everyday Cuban protagonist, played by Alexis Díaz de Villegas, is trying to make money off an invasion of flesh-eating zombies, while the communist government insists all this is a plot backed by the United States to destabilize the country.

The horror comedy promotes that “50 years later, a new revolution has begun”) provoked a big buzz during the past edition of the Marché du Film, in Cannes, when the project was presented internationally. Repporters from around the globe interviewed Burgués and it received the blessing of the zombie-pope himself. Simon Pegg’s twittered that “”Yes we are aware of the new Cuban zombie movie, Juan of the Dead and wish it all the best. In a time of crisis. A hero must rise. Etc … ” and “I sense a Shaun/Juan team up movie called Havana Dead Good Time in London. Cohibas & cricket bats. As another dead basher might saay, groovy!” Thanks Simon! Tell me where to send those Cohibas!!”

AP correspondent Will Weissert gives Juan of the Dead “a real chance at global success.”

This is the second feature-length movie of Brugues, 34. “Personal Belongings”, released in 2007, received acclaim at the international film festivals of Miami and Malaga and was distributed worldwide by Latinofusion.

CNN, Spain’s EL PAIS, The Guardian and even the Zombie Maximum pope:Simon Pegg himself had something to say about this gore-filled black comedy which satirises social mores of Cuba’s communist era.

Juan of the Dead, will land in Cannes Market 2011 where 2 already booked private market screenings have been scheduled. The world premiere has not yet been disclosed but the film is due to be released in Cuba and internationally at the end of summer.

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More info can also be found at the film’s official web site.